Disobedience as a Psychological and Moral Problem

780 WordsOct 21st, 20134 Pages

DISOBEDIENCE AS A PSYCHOLOGICAL AND MORAL PROBLEM 2

“Disobedience as a Psychological and Moral Problem” Erich Fromm
Erich Fromm’s essay “Disobedience as a Psychological and Moral Problem” suggests that humankind’s evolution has, and continues to rely on man’s capability to exercise disobedience. While discussing the positions of disobedience being considered a vice, and obedience being a virtue, Fromm reflects upon the history of Adam and Eve believing that “eating the forbidden fruit” was man’s first act of disobedience. This is the point that broke the bond between man and nature requiring man to be dependant upon his own powers, while rewarding him with his “complete” humanity, freedom,…show more content…

He adds to this by introducing the concepts of rational and irrational authority, explaining that rational authority would be equivalent to that of a teacher and student whereby there is mutual benefit, while irrational authority would be identified by the likes of a slave and his owner who demonstrates complete disregard of the slave’s happiness or well-being, his only interest being how the slave will benefit him. Through a veil of lies man obeys the State, the Church, the mass opinions of their peers, or any other organization that they view to be in power. This affords him a false sense of safety and protection. In his obedience, man feels strong allowing him to be controlled by the fear of being isolated or having undesirable repercussions greet him as a result of any disobedience. Throughout history it has been evident that, for the most part, the few in power have ruled over the majority. The foundation of this relationship has been “the few” equating obedience with virtue and disobedience with sin, resulting in man not only needing to obey, but wanting to obey. Man’s inability to see that he has lost his ability to disobey and stand up for what he believes and values, instead of what he has been brainwashed to believe and value, will inevitably ensure the destruction of all civilization at the hand of man. Man’s only saving grace will be his ability to realize

Jane's Psychological Problems in Charlotte Gilman’s "The Yellow Wallpaper"
In Charlotte Gilman’s short story "The Yellow Wallpaper," Jane, the main character, is a good example of Sigmund Freud’s Studies In Hysteria. Jane suffers from symptoms such as story making and daydreaming. Jane has a nervous weakness throughout the story.
Jane is a victim of a nervous disorder of the brain called hysteria. She is aware that she suffers from a series of mental and physical disturbances. She says…

The Problem of Moral Rationalism
There are many disagreements amongst philosophers concerning the way humans make their moral judgments. While there are those who believe the origin of our moral judgments are based on rationality which is described in moral rationalism, there are also others who believe our moral judgements are based on our emotion which is described by sentimentalism. There are many studies that support this idea of sentimentalism which poses a threat to moral rationalism. Specifically…

This is a critique of Disobedience as a Psychological and Moral Problem by Eric
Fromm, written in 1963. Fromm states in his article that disobedience is what originally
set the human race on the path to thinking on their own, but obedience to authority in the
end will be what kills us all. Overall his article has several compelling reasons to believe
his theory, but it is also not completely believable for several reasons. There are several
points that are debatable and his…

Erich Fromm's Disobedience as a Psychological and Moral Problem
In "Disobedience as a Psychological and Moral Problem," Erich Fromm (1963) argues that society will self-destruct without achieving freedom through disobedience. Fromm begins with analogies of Hebrew and Greek mythology showing how disobedience to a god freed humans. Using this correlation, Fromm shows freedom as a condition for disobedience, and vice- versa. Therefore, Fromm proclaims that without disobedience the human race could…

Moral relativists believe that no one has the right to judge another individuals choice, decisions, or lifestyle because however they choose to live is right for them. In addition everyone has the right to their own moral beliefs and to impose those beliefs on another individual is wrong. At first glance moral relativism may appear ideal in allowing for individual freedom. After all why shouldn’t each individual be entitled to their own idea of moral values and why should others force their beliefs…

Jay Santos
CSI-194-500
Ethic and the Information Age
Does Social Media Cause Psychological Problems ?
In the information world where social media Web sites had become part of almost everybody’s lives, disseminating personal information had become easy and larger in terms of scope and scale and anybody who has access to the internet can easily do so. Anybody who has access to this social media website can reveal news of engagements and breakups, job gains and losses, or even news of life and death;…

DISOBEDIENCE AS A PSYCHOLOGICAL AND MORAL PROBLEM 2
“Disobedience as a Psychological and Moral Problem”
Erich Fromm
Erich Fromm’s essay “Disobedience as a Psychological and Moral Problem” suggests that humankind’s evolution has, and continues to rely on man’s capability to exercise disobedience. While discussing the positions of disobedience being considered a vice, and obedience being a virtue, Fromm reflects upon the history of Adam and Eve believing…

and Approaches to Psychological Problems of Depression, Negative Thinking, Loneliness
Name
Institution
Instructor's Name
Course
Date
Psychological Problems
There is evidence that personal beliefs influence the efficacy of common psychological problems' cures. Personal perception and will power over common problems like depression, sexual dysfunction, smoking, insomnia, and gambling among others is believed necessary in the ability of an individual to overcome these problems. This social psychology…

includes: religious beliefs, background, and work ethics. Civil disobedience played a large role in America. Creating protests, riots, and sit-ins, America had many examples of disobedience. In America, we value our rights as citizens and individuals. We have the right to protest as stated in the first amendment of the United States Constitution, which is called Freedom of Speech. According to the Webster Dictionary, civil disobedience is said to be “the refusal to obey government demands or commands…

Martin Luther King's moral disobedience!
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the issue of non-violence in his letter from Birmingham Jail. He states that any law, which is unjust and inhuman, is not a moral law. Dr. King's argument for non-violent protest against the authorities is just and moral; because any action taken for the greater good of human beings may be called disobedience by the authorities, but as Erich Fromm states in his essay "Disobedience as a Psychological and Moral Problem" -- any act of disobedience…